Dear Editor,
I learn of the latest outrage regarding pay packages and the blood boils. I calm myself down to say in all seriousness that nobody (nobody) in Guyana is worth six million a month, or for that matter anywhere close to two for the same period. Not at the GPL, not at GuySuCo, not in OP, not in cabinet, not in parliament, and not in any place in the public service.
Clearly, the boards approving (rubberstamping) these golden embraces are pathetic and toothless, and could be considered by the reasonable and objective as accessories to the patent rip-offs awarded in the name of compensation. This is official vulgarity at its worst. Even two million a month amounts to highway robbery, given what is gotten in return. This is a rate of near ten thousand dollars an hour, and for doing what that ameliorates the experiences of society?
Guyana is not Wall Street either in skills, or talents, or resources; yet it aspires to such rarefied heights where money is concerned, and delivers the same to the favoured. Given the limitations of the local treasury, these packages are, dollar for dollar, far more than Wall Street pays, and that is saying a whole lot. In other words, given the staggering sums reaped on Wall Street, it is somewhat justified, on occasion, to pay what it does. But not here, where money is sorely lacking.
How can anyone collect six million (or two) when the meters are not read for months on end? Where is the personal shame of those men who collect millions monthly in the losing outfit called GuySuCo? How does a leader observe the plight of the people and fix his pension at levels not only offensive, but which should be made an offence?
If the new people are serious, such repugnance must be responded to in draconian fashion. The Iranians and Chinese (occasionally nowadays) provide utterly exhilarating and heady examples of how to deal with what they call vice and virtue (lack of). I know this is stretching matters, but that is the extent of the disgust and anger, all things considered, and some legalities duly ignored momentarily.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
